Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Lydia Martin
In America, beer is considered to be a standard drink. It’s also one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the country.
But have you ever wondered what’s the most popular beer in America?
From tailgate parties in the heartland to late-night conversations in smoky bars, we’ve had the privilege of experiencing firsthand the beer that has captured the nation’s heart and taste buds.
Keep reading and be ready to dive headfirst into the frothy world of America’s most popular beers.
Top 15 Popular Beers in America (2023 Edition)
15. White Claw
Average Price: approx. $21/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Number of Bottles Sold: 29.1 million cases (2019)
White Claw Hard Seltzer, from the parent company Mark Anthony Group, blends water, gluten-free alcohol, and fruit.
What’s more interesting about this beer brand is its four refreshing flavors: Ruby Grapefruit, Black Cherry, Raspberry, and Natural Lime.
Besides, each pack contains around 100 calories and 2g of sugar, which is lower than most beers like Anheuser Busch Ice Pale Lager (171 kcal) and Pabst Blue Ribbon (110 kcal).
14. Lagunitas
Average Price: approx. $12/6-pack
Alcohol Content: 6.2% ABV
Revenue (2022): $75M
From the parent company Heineken International, Lagunitas is a trend for high-alcoholic beer drinkers, with 6.2% ABV.
This Indian Pale Ale (IPA) [1] has bitter and citrus notes alongside hints of floral and hops.
One of the reasons Lagunitas is popular in the US is its highly balanced and drinkable profile.
We find the hops almost similar to Guinness and Stella Artois, which we like most about Lagunitas.
13. Heineken
Average Price: approx. $20/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Revenue (2022): $6.9B
Although it’s sometimes called a skunky-smelling brew, this is still one of the most popular lager beers worldwide.
This beer has a crisp and refreshing bite with a distinct aroma, which we’ve never encountered in other beers.
What’s fun about Heineken is its hop profile tricks drinkers into believing it’s a green beer.
12. Corona
Average Price: approx. $20-$24/12- to 18-pack
Alcohol Content: around 4% ABV
Revenue (2022): $7B
Modelo’s Corona beer is a refreshing Mexican lager often paired with lime wedges. Despite being Mexican style, it’s a best-selling beer in the US – available at most grocery stores.
This pilsner-style beer is one of the competitive beer brands in the beer industry.
Compared to other beers, Corona Light and Extra have low-calorie counts (99 kcal and 149 kcal, respectively).
11. Guinness
Average Price: approx. $10/4-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Revenue (2022): $8.7M
The original Guinness Draught Stout is made with nitrogen. This beer looks heavy and dark. However, it tastes incredibly smooth and flavorful, with chocolate, caramel, coffee, and roasted barley notes.
Guinness beer has been around for a long time and is one of the best-tasting we’ve tried so far.
Besides, we like that this drink only has 126 calories – fewer than a typical light-lager beer.
10. Great Lakes
Average Price: approx. $11/6-pack
Alcohol Content: 6.5% ABV
Revenue (2022): $648.8M
Great Lakes, from the parent company Great Lakes Brewing Company, is well-known for its hoppy character.
We like how this beer is easy to drink with a mild aroma. It tastes malty but not too sweet with spice, fruitcake, grain, and cereal.
Overall, Great Lakes beer is an excellent beverage that’ll leave you craving more. This is our best alternative if we run out of Michelob Ultra.
9. Samuel Adams
Average Price: approx. $20/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Revenue (2022): $447M
This Boston lager is flavor-forward and full-bodied. So, if you want some complexity, Samuel Adams is a great craft beer choice.
“If you’re looking for beer, what beer might come to mind first, or what pops out to you on the shelf in the store? It’s the one that shares a name with the topic that you’re hearing most about.”
– Dawn Lerman, Marketing Professor & Executive Director at Fordham University
Sam Adams is one of the top-selling beers in America for its full and refreshing taste.
The ABV is a little higher than the standard, giving the booze – perfect for drinkers looking to deviate from the usual lighter version.
8. Yuengling
Average Price: approx. $10/6-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.5% ABV
Revenue (2022): $162.8M
Yuengling is one of the most famous beers in America, crafting delicious craft beer [2]. In fact, Yuengling is one of the oldest in the beer industry – with its parent company began operating in 1829.
Actually, Yuengling Traditional Lager is our first beer in this brand. We like the malty and bready notes, along with its dry character.
Regarding flavor balance and character, we prefer Yuengling over Blue Moon or Pabst Blue Ribbon (from the Pabst Brewing Company).
7. Bud Specialty
Average Price: approx. $10/6-pack
Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Revenue (2022): $5.6B
Bud Specialty, from the Anheuser Busch InBev, is the most expensive beer to craft but generates the least profit, although it’s one of the best-selling beers in America.
In 2020, Budweiser’s sales (off-premise consumption) reached about $717.8 million.
Its smooth taste and crisp profile make it an official beer of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association.
6. Natural Light Beer
Average Price: approx. $15/18-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Number of Bottles Sold: 81,313,091 barrels (2021)
Also known as Natty Light, this light beer from the parent company Anheuser Buschhas a natural light flavor comparable to Busch Light, Miller Lite, and Coors Light (from Molson Coors brewing company).
We like the unique notes on this beer – bready, grainy, dry, and light.
Its medium body gives satisfaction along with the right alcohol concentration, enough to revitalize your energy.
5. Anheuser-Busch
Average Price: approx. $12/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.1% ABV
Revenue (2022): $57.786B
Another light beer from Anheuser-Busch is Busch Light, which we like due to its fewer calories with a refreshing taste.
Among the light beers from the brand, Busch Light is close to Bud Light. Both bottles have natural light and subtle sweetness, perfect for hot summer days.
4. Miller Lite
Average Price: approx. $15/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Revenue (2022): $2.9B
Miller Lite, an American light beer from the parent company MillerCoors (Miller brewing company), is known for its smooth and creamy taste.
Besides, Miller Lite is a great beer with fewer calories.
This is our go-to beer instead of Budweiser’s heavy and filling character. Also, there are cool variations – you can opt for Miller Lite beer cans or Miller High Life beer bottles.
3. Coors Light Beers
Average Price: approx. $15/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Revenue (2022): $2.9B
Coors Light, from the parent company Molson Coors Brewing Company, is one of the top-selling beers in the US.
Coors Light, a light beer, is popular because of its crisp and smooth taste.
Also known as “Silver Bullet,” Coors Light of the Molson Coors Brewing Company gives a refreshing flavor. But we suggest drinking Coors Light cold for a better experience.
2. Michelob Ultra
Average Price: approx. $17/12-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Number of Bottles Sold: 119,220,402 barrels (2021)
Michelob Ultra is a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie beer from the parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev. So, if you’re health-conscious, Michelob Ultra is a must-try.
Among the most popular beers, this alcoholic beverage is one of the healthiest beers you can find – surely one of the reasons why Michelob Ultra is one of the best-selling beers in America.
1. Bud Light
Average Price: approx. $10/6-pack
Alcohol Content: 4.2% ABV
Revenue (2022): $4.5B
Crafted by Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bud Light, a light lager, is known for its refreshing taste, low-calorie count, and fewer carbs. And among the lighter lagers, this one is our favorite.
“America’s favorite beer: a taste that brings us together, one sip at a time.”
– Liquor Laboratory
In 2020, Bud Light of Anheuser Busch InBev became the best-selling beer in the US due to its natural light taste, which we find the overall profile crisp, dry, and smooth.
Also, Bud Light comes in different forms; cans, bottles, and draft kegs [3]. So you have options to choose from.
** Average prices are based on Drizly online. Prices may vary per store.
FAQs
Are craft beers more popular than traditional American beers?
Craft beers are becoming more popular than traditional beers nowadays.
In 2021, the volume sales of craft beers improved by 8% to 24.8 million barrels, based on the Brewers Association’s [4] beer marketer’s insights.
What factors contribute to the popularity of beer brands in America?
The biggest factors contributing to beer brands’ popularity in America are taste and quality.
According to research, over 91% of drinkers prefer craft beers over big-name brands, and 86% stated they would pay more for such beverages even if there were cheaper options.
Final Say
The beer industry offers a wide range of styles and flavors – from a light lager (or light beer) to traditional to heavily-alcoholic ones.
Despite the recent shift toward small-batch and craft breweries, a few companies still dominate America’s top-selling beer brands, including the bottles on this list.
From White Claw, Busch Light (from Anheuser Busch), Michelob Ultra, and Miller Lite to Bud Light are all popular and best-selling.
References:
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/648994/ipa-beers-facts
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429221006209#
- https://home.howstuffworks.com/beer-keg.htm
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/louisbiscotti/2023/01/19/craft-beer-boom-slows-but-still-grows/
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.